Ross Royals romp in football opener

Protecting the ball

Rob Massey/Mercury staff

Charles Carrier of the Ross Royals looks upfield during the District 10 football opener against the Orangeville Bears Thursday at Ross. The defending champion Royals won 42-0. Rob Massey/Guelph Mercury

After Thursday’s District 10 high school football opener, the Orangeville Bears are likely glad the Royals aren’t in top operating mode.

The defending champion Royals opened the campaign with a 42-0 victory on the Ross field.

“It’s a rebuilding year for us and we’re young,” Ross coach Jeff Yanchus said. “They’ve got a lot of big kids and they had a couple of running backs who ran the ball well. You can’t take people for granted.”

The Bears are in their third year in the league and are looking for their first victory after a pair of 0-6-0 seasons. While they were outscored by 248 points in 2010, their debut season, the Bears cut the margin down to 230 last season and will be out to chop it more this year.

“It was a pretty good test to see if we’re ready for the season,” Ross running back Charles Carrier said. “I think we are.”

The Royals graduated several players last season and four of them are on OUA rosters — defensive lineman Reza Shayani at Guelph, offensive lineman Jackson Yanchus and linebacker Pat Bishop at Laurier and defensive back Jack Cornett at Queen’s.

“Some of those guys were playing both ways (at Ross), but it’s four defensive players,” coach Yanchus said. “(Defence) was the strength of our team, I think, last year. There are some guys that are going to have to fill some pretty big shoes.

“We’ve got some good returning players, but we’ve got guys having to step up to do more work than they have in the past.”

After a slow start Thursday, the Royals put the game away in the second quarter. The hosts led 7-0 after the first quarter, 28-0 at the half and 35-0 after the third quarter.

Jake Frimeth and Carrier scored two touchdowns apiece while Sina Farsi and Tommy Yanchus also scored touchdowns. Bob Mackenzie converted all six touchdowns.

“I didn’t like the way we started, especially on defence,” coach Yanchus said. “I thought the guys were nervous and we were timid and we can’t be like that when we’re playing St. James at home next week. They take their football over there pretty seriously.”

“There’s always improvements that we can have,” Carrier said. “It’s going to be a huge week of practice next week, but I think we definitely have potential.”

Carrier, who played for the Ontario West team at the Canada Cup of football tournament, will likely get the bulk of the rushing assignments for Ross, but he isn’t looking for glory.

“I’m not expecting to carry the team or anything,” he said. “I’m just a team player. I just want to do my part and I want to win another championship, defend the throne.”

The Royals did sit most of their starters in the second half which gave their younger players plenty of game experience.

D10 Sr. Girls Basketball

Lourdes 49 Orangeville 28

Erin Gerstenkorn struck for nine points for Lourdes while Hannah Pearsall had eight. Claire Fenton had 18 for Orangeville while Rachel Adams and Sarah Rose followed with four apiece.

D10 Jr. Girls Basketball

St. James 31 Bishop Macdonell 30

St. James received 19 points from Nastassja Herriot while Meghan Santi had five and Donna Zen four. Carter Godman and Jessica Burke each scored six for Bishop Mac.

Guelph CVI 44 Centennial 40

Sydney Wilson led GCVI with 18 points while Ijeoma Stauton followed with 13. Emma Korol netted 16 for Centennial with eight going to Emma Cain.

D4/10 Girls Field Hockey

Guelph CVI 0 Wellington Heights 0

Seana Gural recorded the shutout for Wellington Heights while GCVI's goalkeeper was not reported.